The Scythians were a barbaric group of pre-Common Era nomadic tribes who are a fascinating example of an ancient cannabis using group. The Scythians played a very important part in the Ancient World from the seventh to first century BC. They were expert horsemen, and were one of the earliest peoples to master the art of riding and      using horse-drawn covered wagons.

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This early high mobility is probably why most scholars credit them with the spread of cannabis knowledge throughout the ancient world. Indeed, the Scythian people travelled and settled extensively throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, Central Asia, and Russia, bringing their knowledge of the spiritual and practical uses for cannabis with them.

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Cannabis was an integral part of the Scythian cult of the dead, wherein homage was paid to the memory of their departed leaders. After the death and burial of their king, the Scythians would purify themselves by setting up small tepee-like structures which they would enter to inhale the fumes of hemp seeds (and the resinous flower calyxes surrounding the seeds) thrown onto red-hot stones.

 

‘Regarding the Scythian cannabis saunas and seeds. I’m not sure if you are familiar        with the botany of the cannabis plant. But basically the cannabis product that is sold for smoking purposes these days is the flowers of the female plant that usually produce seeds. These are the most potent part of the plant. These flowers (buds), become even stronger if they are forced to grow without pollination, thus producing more of the ‘resin’ that contains the thc and cannaboids that get you ‘stoned’. Modern growing technology and botany have got this down to a fine art, producing a potent, compact product that is easy to sell. and consume. So when Herodotus mentions cannabis seed being thrown onto the hot rocks.

I am sure he is talking about the seed producing flowers of the plant. Even if the female flowers have been pollinated by the male flowers and are producing seeds, it is still the most potent part of the plant, with enough of the good stuff to make you ‘shout with joy’. Did the scythians separate the male and female hemp plants,thus producing a much stronger smoke for their saunas? This will be interesting to try and research.

While marijuana is a very effective medicine for many things, promoting the embrace of “pothead”, criminal culture seems detrimental to our youth as well as an attempt to divert the effort to educate non users on the REAL medicinal benefits of marijuana.  An old market opportunity; In fact, one of the oldest. However, it’s sole recorded use 10.000 years ago was for the hemp. The oil and seeds were commonly in use a couple thousand years later, and medicinal uses are recorded beginning between 3.000 – 2.000 BCE. Bathhouses in the Middle East had steam saunas utilizing marijuana. In most recent history for America, hemp was still a valued agriculture and was grown on farmlands, including that of George Washington and family.

Only female plants will produce enough THC to be used as medicine,  they won’t create much if they become fertilized. With the pistol is meant to attract pollen. If it gets it, it will create a seed, and all the plants energy and nutrients will be spent making seeds, not making big, THC-full buds. Your female plants are the only ones that will produce a crop, but only if they stay away from the males. Currently it is easy to determine which seeds are male or female, and since only the female plants produce weed, male plants are usually made legal for the production of hemp. Of course, the female plants are at least needed to create male seeds, but have the potential to produce much more.  

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     The chemicals behind the high are THC and CBD, both with unique properties that reveal themselves differently dependent on the method of use. THC is what makes you giddy or, potentially, paranoid – THC intensifies emotional feeling. CBD, however, works as a muscle relaxant; and, can be ingested for a pain relieving effect or applied topically onto sore muscles to help ease sourness/stiffness (since the most effective method of obtaining CBD is by extracting the oil from the female plant which has a high CBD content). Hopefully, the medicinal properties of the marijuana plant can continue to be discovered as the plant is easy and cheap to grow, and produces a lot of resources.

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Cannabis: Myths and Realities

By Kaylynn Chiarello-Ebner

January 20, 2016

Learn what this growing market segment has to offer. Shoppers are increasingly interested in cannabis, and industry companies are developing more and more products  to fill this need. But, not everyone (and every store) has accepted this burgeoning market with open arms. Confusion about the facts and realities may be the source of some of this hesitation. Here, several cannabis experts clarify some top myths about this herb and products sourced from it.

Myth: Hemp and Marijuana Are the Same Thing

While hemp and marijuana can both be derived from Cannabis sativa, marijuana can     also come from other varieties of the same plant. Both products have unique and distinct compositions and usually come from different parts of the plant.  Confused?  You’re not alone.

Since both agricultural hemp and marijuana are Cannabis sativa, “many people interchangeably consider hemp as marijuana and vice versa. This is not true,” states Sarah Syed,  director of marketing at CannaVest Corp.,  San Diego, CA.       “The classification of the two related species make it hard for people to see that they        are different.”

Jane Wilson, director of program development at the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA),  Silver Spring,  M.D., points out that there is actually a lot of        diversity in the overarching title of  “cannabis.”  Hemp varieties of cannabis are low             in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and can be used to make textiles, rope and building materials. “The oil from hemp seed is a nutritionally dense source of essential fatty      acids and complete protein,” she states. The same cannot be said of marijuana.

And, Syed makes the point that the plants from which hemp and marijuana are derived have quite different characteristics, even though they are both Cannabis sativa. “Marijuana plants are short and bushy, and have high-THC in the flower,” she explains. “Agricultural hemp grows like bamboo, and has low levels of THC.”

To understand industrial hemp versus marijuana, it’s key to talk about some of the     recent history about the sale of hemp-derived products. On October 9, 2001, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published an Interpretive Rule about the sale of  hemp in the Federal Register banning the sale of any hemp products with trace amounts    of THC in them.  Patent No. 6,630,507: Why the U.S. government holds a patent on cannabis plant compounds 

The Hemp Industries Association and others filed an “Urgent Motion of Stay” and after much back and forth, a key decision was made by the Ninth Circuit in the case of Hemp Industries Assn., vs. Drug Enforcement Admin., 357 F.3d 1012 (9th Cir. 2004), which recognized that “non-psychoactive hemp [that] is derived from the ‘mature stalks’ or is    ‘oil and cake made from the seeds’ of the Cannabis plant,…fits within the plainly stated exception to the [Controlled Substance Act] definition of marijuana.”

In other words, the DEA cannot completely ban hemp products with THC, if they are derived from the stalk and stem of hemp grown outside the United States.Will Kleidon, CEO and founder of Ojai Energetics LLC, Ojai, CA, adds that there may be some changes to these rules in the future, however. “Some people are saying that the 2014 Farm Bill redefines hemp as the whole plant,” he states, adding that using the flowers and parts of the plant outside the stalk and stem may only be legal for research purposes and not for interstate commerce yet.       https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/cannabis-research-studies/

Preview  CANNABINOIDS AT WORK, CANCER/

DISEASE CURE. Did You Know?

The cannabis plant has more than 80 cannabinoid constituents. In fact, most of them cause no psychotropic effects at all. Says Nicole Smith, founder and CEO, Mary’s Medicinals & Mary’s Nutritionals, Denver, CO, “A common misconception is that all cannabis ‘gets you high.’… Most of the therapeutically beneficial compounds that we can extract from cannabis will not cause any psychotropic effects…It is important that retailers understand that there is a lot more to the cannabis plant than just THC.”

One specific cannabinoid, THC, is vital to understanding the cannabis market, however. Wilson explains this compound is responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects. “Retailers in states with medical cannabis laws and/or adult use laws can provide or sell products containing THC, but it remains a substance prohibited under federal law by the Controlled Substances Act,” Wilson states. “Retailers electing to sell products containing THC must have an excellent understanding of the licensing and compliance requirements in their state, as well as to whom they can legally sell or provide products under state law.”

THC content is restricted in legal products like CBD oil. Robert LoMacchio, president of Only Natural, Inc., Island Park, NY, believes that THC is not well understood at all, with some believing CBD oil has psychoactive or intoxicating effects. “The truth is, it is believed to have an anti-psychotic effect and could actually be used for anxiety and stress support. In some individuals, it may have a calming effect on the mind and body,” he states.

According to Kleidon, “The psychoactive threshold is set at 0.3% THC, based on the Farm Bill and interstate standards for hemp.”

Conventional hemp-based CBD oils, LoMacchio adds, are standardized to contain less than that legal limit.
To put this trace amount into perspective, Richard Rose, executive director of the Medicinal Hemp Association, states that marijuana’s THC content can be as high as 25%.

Kleidon notes that 0.3% THC may be a fairly conservative percentage threshold, as some research shows psychoactive thresholds at 1% THC or even higher. Nonetheless, his firm actually uses a far lower threshold in its products: 0.03%. He says his company has a patented technique for turning the fat-soluble ingredient into a water-soluble one, thereby improving absorption rate and bioavailability (estimated at 10x). Therefore, less THC is required.

Kleidon believes that having some THC in hemp-derived CBD oils is key for a product’s bioavailability and efficacy. He is suspicious of CBD oils that are void of any cannabinoids with the belief that it may not be efficacious.

Another interesting point comes from Rose, who says THC is actually not psychoactive      in its raw form.  “It is not psychoactive until heated  (“decarboxylated”)  and converted      to psychoactive THC,” he states, noting that raw marijuana is about as psychoactive as potatoes or corn. “Same with cannabis. Eat and also juice it freely for whole plant acid cannabinoids without the high,” he states.

Myth: Regulators Have Outlawed the Sale of CBD Oils as Supplements

According to Rose, “There has never been one raid or arrest for selling CBD in any store, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has never said it was illegal or couldn’t be sold.”

But that doesn’t mean FDA has been completely silent about CBD oils sold as dietary supplements. In February 2015, FDA sent several warning letters to several companies telling them that the CBD oils were making unsubstantiated disease claims or they did    not contain any CBD at all (according to testing conducted by the agency).

Wilson says it is not unusual for companies selling supplements that are out of compliance to receive warning letters, and no, “The warning letters did not otherwise address the legality of CBD supplement products.”

Syed says that many CBD companies are new to the dietary supplements industry            and are unfamiliar with DSHEA and the legal parameters of selling supplements.

She states, “Many CBD companies have been touting health benefits that legally                 we aren’t able to say based on laws established by the FDA, even if they may be true.”

Syed says her company’s strategy is to focus on education. “We have to help guide             the standards of this new category. We are doing what we can to help make sure we         can all remain in this space together, touting benefits we know that are appropriate         and legal to say.”

What may have caused some industry members to believe FDA doesn’t like the idea of CBD oils being sold as supplements  is  its Question and Answer webpage  on medical marijuana.  Here,  says Wilson,  “[FDA] stated its position that CBD is not a dietary ingredient because of the filing of Investigational New Drug (IND) applications and ongoing clinical trials for its use as a registered pharmaceutical. AHPA is not aware of     any enforcement action taken by FDA against marketers of CBD supplement products since that position was made public.”

WholeFoods has spoken to some companies that feel this opinion is clear enough to make them reposition CBD-containing dietary supplements to food products instead. LoMacchio’s interpretation of FDA’s viewpoint, for instance, is “Hemp-based CBD oils must be marketed as a nutritional foods or food additives, not as dietary supplements.”  He is hopeful that with additional research, regulators will show full support of the use      of CBD oils as dietary supplements.

Smith’s company also chooses to market its products outside the supplements realm. “While industry lawyers have indicated that the referenced letters and Q&A posting are  far from a final determination on this issue, we are not offering any CBD supplements or medicines.  We never make any claims about these products,” she states, noting that her firm’s products are classified as cosmetics or food products that are rich in high-quality CBD.

It is also possible that FDA’s opinion has made some companies shift from a CBD focus     to “hemp oil” or “hemp extract.” Wilson suggests that some CBD oil companies may also have chosen to sell their products in states that have legalized marijuana for medical and adult-use purposes or through licensed dispensaries in these states.

Still others, like Ojai Energetics, believe the sale of CBD oil as a supplement falls         within the regulatory framework, provided it is made following FDA’s GMPs for dietary supplements, appropriate analytical testing is conducted and no unsubstantiated disease claims are being made. Ojai Energetics sells CBD oils as supplements and as foods in places like natural products stores and licensed dispensaries.

Rose believes one could make that case that CBD is grandfathered in as a legal dietary ingredient “just like hempseed oil and whole hempseed as a food, and ironically even more-so than shelled hempseed, which was introduced after DSHEA.  But just like hempseed and oil, or echinacea and gingko for that matter, companies make health   claims at their peril.”

There is another angle to the warning letters and Q&A page. Says Rose, “It appears       FDA agrees with what those of us have known for years:  Cannabidiol in hemp is not            a Controlled Substance. Period. Otherwise, FDA would be talking RICO organization    with multiple underlying felonies against the officers of the business.”

Reality: CBD Oil May Throw Drug Testing

According to Kleidon, it is possible that certain individuals who use large amounts            of  THC-containing products may test positive on urine drug tests.  He states, “People    who get drug tested and use large amounts of THC products should be careful and use      at their own discretion.”

Myth: Cannabis Products Are Only for Pain Relief

For starters, retailers cannot promote cannabis-derived products like CBD oil as pain relievers. This is a disease claim, and not an appropriate way to frame how cannabis products benefit the body.

But without question, supporters are convinced that hemp-derived products bolster optimal health in numerous ways. Kleidon attributes these effects to the human endocannabinoid (EC) system, which was discovered in 1988. “We now believe its  function is to regulate homeostasis for the entire body,” he states.

Syed adds that CBD “is capable of affecting nearly every biological process.”

How does THC affect behavior? It depends on where the CB receptors are in the brain.

Brain Structure Regulates THC Effect on User

Amygdala emotions, fear, anxiety panic/paranoia

Basal Ganglia planning/starting a movement slowed reaction time

Brain Stem information between brain and spinal column anti nausea effects

Cerebellum motor coordination, balance impaired coordination

Hippocampus learning new information impaired memory

Hypothalamus eating, sexual behavior increased appetite

Neocortex complex thinking, feeling, and movement altered thinking, judgment, and sensation

Nucleus Accumbens motivation and reward euphoria (feeling good)

Spinal Cord

transmission of information between body and brain altered pain sensitivity

For more facts about marijuana and other drugs, visit;  teens.drugabuse.gov or scholastic.com/headsup.

The EC system is a communications system in the brain and body, and it affects many bodily functions such as emotions, movement and more (1). The body naturally produces chemical messengers called cannabinoids to interact with the EC system in a unique fashion. Says Rose, “That means everyone is born to produce ECs naturally, so adding external cannabinoids is just adding more of what we already have in us. Mother’s milk, for instance, is very high in ECs naturally.”

When a postsynaptic neuron is activated, the body makes cannabinoids from certain fat cells present in neurons. When they are released, they travel backward to the presynaptic neuron and attach to cannabinoid receptors. This means cannabinoids can control what happens the next time these cells are activated, limiting how much neurotransmitter is released and how cells send, receive and process messages (1).

Syed believes that CBD can support numerous bodily processes for this reason. “Phytocannabinoids like CBD, of which well over 100 have been found to exist,                 are plant derivatives that ‘talk’ to just about every major organ system in the body             via the ECS, helping restore normal balance and physiologic homeostasis.”

According to Kleidon, cannabinoid receptors are present in the brain, organs, skin, bones, fascia, immune system and digestive system. “Their function is to support homeostasis for the entire body, which in my opinion, is one of the most important systems we have. It’s a master system for all the other systems,” he says.

Supplementing with CBD, he believes, boosts the body’s natural cannabinoid levels.        “In my opinion, it’s absolutely vital to supplement and raise natural cannabinoid levels     to make sure it’s promoting our bodies’ homeostasis effectively,” Kleidon states.

Smith shares a similar belief that cannabis products should be widely used, and says          it is a misconception that cannabis is only used by “a certain type of people.” She states, “Everyone from soccer moms to professional athletes and especially seniors are beginning to explore the benefits of cannabis for varied reasons. We sponsor an ultra-runner who uses our products while training for 100–200 mile marathons—so much for the stereotype of the lazy, out-of-shape stoner!”

Researchers continue to explore the benefits of CBD oil, which may include bone, digestive, eye, respiratory and cognitive health as well as healthy mood. Experiments     also suggest, Rose says, that CBD even induces apoptosis in cancer cells and generates   new brain cells,  though more research  is needed before  it  can  be considered to be a treatment. “Every adult human and animal can benefit from cannabinoids,” he believes.

Meanwhile, hemp seed, hemp seed oil and hemp-derived foods are already readily available at many retail stores, and provide “nutrient dense options for consumers interested in trying them,” says Wilson.

Reality: Product Testing Is Critical to this Category

All dietary supplements must be made according to GMPs and undergo responsible analytical testing. Hemp products are no exception.

Kleidon explains that the cannabis plant is a dynamic accumulator, meaning it pulls         up heavy metals.  If the plant is grown in toxic soil,  the plant “cleans the soil” and  absorbs  the impurities. “That’s not good for a consumption-based product,” he states.

Smith says that for this reason, organic crops from trustworthy suppliers are preferable since there is little chance of pesticides or environmental toxins contaminating the plants.

Kleidon says that it is very important for companies to do third-party testing per batch for heavy metals, microbes, volatile organic compounds as well as for the right cannabinoid and terpene content. “People should know exactly what they’re getting every single time,” he states.  The best strains of cannabis?